The Year of the Lord’s Favor: Isaiah 61:2a

There are two promises in view with the words of this phrase. The first is the concept of the Year of Jubilee that we discussed above. This was the season when debts were forgiven and family lands were restored-the oppression of division from the community by debit was brought to an end. Indeed, this is what we find in Christ Jesus, where all believers are brought into the covenant and are given an inheritance in the land-a land that is being reserved for us free from corruption, by Christ in Heaven (1 Peter 1:4-5. Indeed, the celebration that Christ ushers in is an ongoing Year of Jubilee before the Lord.

Yet there is more at work than this, for the Year of the Lord’s Favor, ushered in by Christ, is a promise to be enjoyed by Gentiles as well as by Jews. It is to be enjoyed by all who will trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The language of this verse also picks up on the language of Isaiah 49:8, where God promises that in the “time of the favor” of the Lord, God will work salvation for his people, bringing the nations into the covenant. Indeed, the verses that follow echo much of the language of chapter 61. Thus, in Christ, we see the principle of the Year of Jubilee applied to the gentiles as well as to the Jewish people. In Christ we find that the fortunes of all the tribes of the earth-all of the descendants of the sons of Noah, find blessing as the gospel is brought to them.

We need to raise one more issue regarding this passage. Given that we know the context of the Year of the Lord’s favor with respect to the Year of Jubilee and its extension to the gentiles, we still ought to ask the question of what favor means. I raise this question, because oftentimes when we think of favor, we think of earning someone’s favor, and this is obviously not the case with God. The word “favor” is the Hebrew word, !Acr” (ratson), and while we find the term used in a variety of contexts, normally it is used to refer to favor that is graciously given and not favor that has been earned. In many of the cases, this term could also be translated as “grace.” Do understand, loved ones, that the language of the Year of God’s Favor is the language of a gracious gift that has been given, not something that has been earned in any which way. Seek Christ, and enjoy the year of his grace-enjoy his mercies and rest in the assurance of his promise. That which you could not do for yourself (being brought into the favor of the Lord) has been done by Christ for us! Hallelujah! Amen!

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, I have been traveling and this comment got buried and I overlooked it. In terms of the phrase “Year of the Lord’s Favor”, the answer is that context is the key. Originally, it was a reference to the Old Testament “Year of Jubilee” which was a literal year. Yet, that event (the Year of Jubilee) was a foreshadowing of a greater fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Year of Jubilee marked a time when all debits were forgiven for God’s people; Jesus’ fulfillment is a time when all spiritual debts (of sin) are forgiven for God’s people. Thus the former one was limited to a chronological year, the latter one is ongoing (Jesus’ fulfillment is greater). So, in the case of the Year of the Lord’s Favor fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the term Year is being used metaphorically to represent a long period of time — in this case, however long Jesus tarries. Then that forgiveness will be perfected.

In terms of sermons specifically on the nature of the Church age and the Year of Jubilee, no, not really. Sorry about that. I am sure that there are some references here and there along with some parallels in the Luke 4 text where Jesus cites this. Maybe down the road, but not yet. 😉

This means that we forever living in the year of the favor of God for Christ came in fulfiling and its a new covernant to this generation… we always living in that year given by grace and it gives us and reveals to us the this God prepared for us before time began…. thank you servents of God for such insight i know its helping many including me..

Quotes:

"God's mind is revealed in Scripture, but we can see nothing without the spectacles of the Holy Ghost." -- Thomas Manton

"God is no fonder of intellectual slackers than of any other slackers. If you are thinking of becoming a Christian, I warn you that you are embarking on something which is going o take the whole of you, brains and all." -- C.S. Lewis

"Yet, I fear upon examination,we should find that most of you have not so much faith as the Devil himself. I am persuaded that the Devil believes more of the Bible than most of us do. He believes the divinity of Jesus Christ; that is more than many who call themselves Christians do; nay, he believes and trembles and that is more than thousands amongst us do." -- George Whitefield

"It must be felt that there is no national security but in the nation's humble acknowledged dependence upon God and his overruling Providence." -- President John Adams

"Awe your heart, then,with the authority of God in the Scriptures; and when carnal reason says, 'my enemy deserves to be hated,' let conscience reply, 'But doth God deserve to be disobeyed.'" -- John Flavel

"Solomon, the wisest of kings of Israel, spent 7 years building a magnificent temple in praise of your (God's) name, and celebrated its dedication with a feast of 8 days. He offered a thousand victims in your honor and solemnly bore the Ark of the Covenant with trumpeting and jubilation to the place prepared for it; and I, unhappy and poorest of men, how shall I lead you into my house, I who scarcely can spend a half-hour devoutly--would that I could spend even that as I ought!" -- Thomas 'a Kempis